Company Formation · Dubai E-Trader Licence

Government fees are set and collected by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and there is a separate Dubai Chamber membership fee. We confirm the exact total for your activity before you pay anything.

Generally yes, for professional services such as consulting, design and digital work. Product trading is open to UAE and GCC nationals, and expat eligibility is confirmed case by case with DET. We check where you stand before you commit.

Common activities include:
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• Fashion, accessories and handmade goods
• Cosmetics and beauty products (subject to approvals)
• Home-cooked and baked food
• Design, marketing, tutoring and consulting services
• Digital products and online courses

Regulated products need additional approvals. We confirm the right activity code for what you actually sell.

No. The e-Trader licence does not cover visa sponsorship, hiring employees or opening a physical shop. If you need any of those, a mainland or free zone licence is the right route and we can move you across when you're ready.

You will typically need:
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• A valid UAE residence visa
• Your Emirates ID
• A UAE mobile number and email address
• A trade name for your business
• The correct activity code for what you sell
  

Auxilium prepares the trade name reservation and the portal submission for you.

Yes. The e-Trader licence does not grant residency, so you need a valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID before applying. If you don't have one yet, we can look at your residency options first.

No. The e-Trader licence is designed for home-based online trading, so there is no requirement for commercial premises, a tenancy contract or Ejari.

One year. It is renewed annually online through your DET account, and we can handle the renewal for you so it doesn't lapse.

No. The e-Trader licence is issued to an individual, not a company, so it cannot carry partners or shareholders. If you're going into business with someone, you'll need a different structure and we can advise on which.

The application is fully digital through the Invest in Dubai portal and issuance timing is determined by DET. Delays almost always come from activity mismatches or documentation errors, which is exactly what we check before submitting.

Typical next steps include:

• Setting up a payment gateway for online sales
• Opening or updating your bank arrangements
• Diarising your annual renewal

We stay available after issuance, including when it's time to upgrade to a mainland or free zone licence.

You can. Rejections typically come down to two avoidable issues: activity mismatches and documentation errors. Eligibility rules for expatriate residents are also not always clear on the portal. We will also tell you when an e-Trader licence is not the right route for you.

When you need a residence visa, employees or premises, we transition you to a mainland or free zone licence without starting again, and manage the company formation end to end.

Yes. The e-Trader licence is issued by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism and applies to Dubai. Other emirates run their own equivalents, and we can advise if Dubai isn't where you're based.